Improvement in label-holders



J. E. SWE'ETLAND.

LABEL HOLDER.

No. 191,555. Patented June 5,1877

N. PEIERS, PHOTO LITMOGRA?HER. WASHINGTON. D c.

PATENT QFFICE.

JAMES E. SWEETLAND, OF LAWRENOEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN LABEL-HOLDERS.

specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 191,555, dated June 5, 1877 application filed April 20,1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES EDWIN SWEET- LAND, of La wrenceville, in the county of Tiogaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shipping- Tags, of which the following is a clear and exact description:

The object of my invention is to furnish a device by which to change the address upon butter-pails, tubs, boxes, barrels, or other packages used for carrying butter, fruit, oysters, or other articles of merchandise, so that the packages may be forwarded to one address and returned to the original shipper, or reshipped to another address without nailing, tacking, tying, or pasting shipping-tags or cards upon them.

To this end my invention consists of a cardholding frame, or a tag of metal or other suitable stifl' material, showing an address upon each side, and pivoted, some distance from one end, to the free end of a spring, which, being fixed to the package, will firmly hold the tag thereto, but permit it to be reversed with case.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a box with my reversible tag or directioncard attached to one end thereof. Fig, 2 is a plan view of my reversible tag on a larger scale, showing one form of spring and the method of securing it. Fig. 3 illustrates the method of reversing the tag. Fig. 4 is an end view of one form of frame, for holding the direction card or cards.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

In the example chosen to illustrate my invention, a card, A, having an address upon each side, or more than one card placed together, so as to show an address upon opposite sides, are placed within a grooved metal frame or casing, B, which is open at one end, so as to admit the card. The open end of the frame or ca ing is provided with two or more stops, 1), consisting of projections on the inner surfaces of the cross-bars at this end of the frame, on a line with each other. These stops prevent the card from accidentally slipping out, but readily admit of its being slipped out to be replaced by a new card, when desired, by slightly springing the cross bars at the open end of the frame or casing apart, and bending the end of the card in conformity with the opening. This frame is pivoted on a line about an inch from one end to the crossbar of a |...l-shaped wire spring, 0, whose ends terminate in spirals c and 0, extending at right angles from the legs of the wire, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The ends of the spirals are firmly secured to the box or package, in such a manner that the straight bars of the spring will firmly press against the package, and thus hold the card-frame flat against it. The card-frame may be reversed easily by turning it on its pivot, in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

It is obvious that a metallic tag with an address on each side may be used instead of a card-frame; also, that any other suitable form of spring may be substituted for the one I have chosen to illustrate my invention also, that the u shape of the spring is in no sense essential; also, that the arrangement and form of the spring are wholly immaterial, provided only the spring is so combined with a double-faced tag or card frame'as to hold it firmly pressed against the package, and also admit of its reversal.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The combination, substantially as specified, of a tag or card frame, and a spring to which it is pivoted for reversal.

In testimony whereof I' have signed my name to the foregoing specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. E. SWEETLAND.

Witnesses:

NEHEMIAH LOSEY, WALTON L. BUTTS. 

